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The birth of a child fills the lives of parents with real joy and happiness. Not only does the moment mark the arrival, but it also presents a situation where parents have to take a call regarding the preservation of their child’s umbilical cord blood at the time of birth. Research shows that stem cells found in umbilical cord blood are playing a pioneering role in treating numerous diseases, offering unprecedented health benefits.
Let’s understand the conditions treated with umbilical cord blood and how these stem cells act as a protective barrier for you and your child from a variety of serious, life-threatening illnesses.
Preserving Cord Blood: Understanding Its Potential
Cord blood banking is a process that preserves essential stem cells from the umbilical cord, which can be utilised to treat over 80 diseases, including various cancers and immune disorders. These younger cells that can quickly regenerate are highly utilised in transplants to restore the blood and immune systems. You have the option to engage in private banking for your family or to contribute funds to the public.
Even a few years back, people hardly knew about cord blood, let alone preserving it. However, extensive research in this domain has opened up new avenues for regenerative and therapeutic uses, demonstrating potential health benefits for more than 80 serious diseases.
Even the FDA classifies umbilical cord blood as a biological product, specifically haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC), which can be utilised in the treatment of blood and immune system disorders. The FDA states that although it may be applicable for transplants, it is not a universal solution for all diseases, and certain non-transplant applications are still undergoing testing. The FDA distinguishes between public donations, which are encouraged, and private banking.
Stem cells are undifferentiated, self-renewing cells that can develop into specialised cells to repair and regenerate tissues. Some of the common regenerative stem cells are:
- Embryonic stem cells
- Adult stem cells
- Foetal stem cells
- Umbilical cord stem cells
A newborn’s umbilical cord blood contains haematopoietic stem cells that can develop into all types of blood cells. These stem cells are collected at birth and preserved for potential future use. Here goes the list of diseases treated with cord blood:
Cancers
- Acute Myelogenous Leukaemia (AML)
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia (CML)
- Multiple Myeloma
- Lymphomas (Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin).
Blood Disorders
- Aplastic Anemia
- Fanconi Anemia
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Beta-Thalassemia Major
- Congenital DyserythropoieticAnaemia
- Inherited platelet anomalies
Immune System Disorders:
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
- Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
- Various neutropenias
Metabolic Disorders
- Adrenoleukodystrophy
- Hunter’s Syndrome
- Hurler’s Syndrome
- Krabbe Disease
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Morquio Syndrome
- Mucolipidosis
- Niemann-Pick Disease
- Osteopetrosis
- Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease
- Sandhoff Disease
- Sanfilippo Syndrome
- Scheie Syndrome
- Sly Syndrome
- Wolman Disease
Due to their immense potential, stem cells continue to spark interest in scientists and the healthcare community. Statistics and data demonstrate increasingly astonishing potential of regenerative stem cells in medicine. Some of these diseases, treatable with cord blood stem cells, have been a point of discussion in healthcare communities for the last few years.
Let’s explore
- Since 1928, individuals across the globe have utilised human foetal stem cells to address a variety of medical conditions. Italy released an article in a medical journal discussing a form of foetal tissue transplantation that may benefit individuals suffering from cancer and diabetes, a condition characterised by elevated blood sugar levels.
Currently, approximately 50,000 stem cell transplants take place globally each year, with a remarkable growth rate of 10 to 15 per cent annually. Researchers found a benign impact of stem cells in treating Leukaemia, which is the most prevalent form of cancer among children globally, including in India.
- Till 2010, stem cell transplants had effectively treated over 17,000 individuals suffering from blood cancer.
Clinical trials primarily focus on evaluating safety and effectiveness. Researchers globally are conducting research to find the potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from cord blood and umbilical cord tissue to address a wide range of health issues.
Patients and their families are now participating in global clinical trials facilitated by specialised resources. These lists cover trials using cells derived from either cord blood or cord tissue. There are also comprehensive tables that monitor every diagnosis examined in clinical trials involving these cells, regardless of whether those trials are ongoing, have concluded, or are no longer accepting participants. This information provides an overview of the extent of research conducted on cord blood and cord tissue across various medical fields.
Cordlife: India’s Leading Stem Cell Bank
Stem cells with regenerative capabilities hold significant promise. They help scientists understand how the human body grows and repairs itself, and they open new pathways for treating many life-threatening diseases.
That is why the time of birth holds greater significance than it may initially appear. Cord blood serves as a valuable and uncommon reservoir of potent stem cells that often goes unnoticed by many individuals. The opportunity is lost permanently once that moment has elapsed. Today, healthcare communities have enlisted a number of diseases treated with umbilical cord blood stem cells.
For expectant parents thinking ahead—about health, security, and future possibilities—choosing the right stem cell banking solution becomes an important decision. Cordlife helps you make that decision by enabling you to preserve what may ultimately transform your life.
- Cordlife takes pride in supporting families through some of their most challenging moments. The company promotes the storage of umbilical cord blood for its rich supply of haematopoietic stem cells, which can cure over 80 diseases, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and immune disorders.
Here are some real-life accounts that illustrate how cord blood, cord lining, and tissue units preserved in Cordlife facilities have contributed to successful stem cell transplants and treatments for a diverse array of conditions, including rare genetic blood disorders, childhood cancers, and neurological disorders. Each journey—for example,
- Joyce’s recovery from a neurological condition
- Jayant’s victory over thalassaemia
- Eugene’s fight against leukaemia
All these reflect strength, hope and commitment which remain steadfast in every aspect of the treatment. These stories are truly encouraging and exciting as they are strong reminders of how preserved cord blood can give families a second chance when they need it most.